KS GOV: In a new Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University poll (Aug. 17-Oct. 26), Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) “received the highest recognition, with 86% of respondents saying they had heard of him.” The rest of the field and their respective name recognition: 2014 KS SEN candidate Greg Orman (I) at 50 percent; former state Sen. Jim Barnett (R) at 41 percent; former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer (D) at 40 percent; Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer (R) at 38 percent; state House Minority Leader Jim Ward (D) at 35 percent; oil executive Wink Hartman (R) at 34 percent; state insurance commissioner Ken Selzer (R) at 26 percent; former state Rep. Ed O’Malley (D) at 25 percent; former state Agriculture Secretary Josh Svaty (D) at 14 percent; and high schooler Jack Bergeson (D) at 8 percent.

“Carl Brewer received the highest positive rating, with 46% of respondents selecting a rating above 5. Kris Kobach received the highest negative rating, with 47% of respondents selected a rating below 5.” (release)

OK GOV: Former state Attorney General Drew Edmondson (D) and former state Sen. Connie Johnson (D) both support medical marijuana. Term-limited Gov. Mary Fallin (R) “set a June 26 election for State Question 788, which will ask voters whether they want to legalize medical marijuana in the state. Supporters had gotten enough signatures on a petition to get the statutory change on the ballot.” (Tulsa World)

SD GOV: Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether and his wife ”will announce what a city spokesperson calls their ‘next steps’ … Monday at 11 a.m. at City Hall.” (KSFY)

TN GOV: Rep. Diane Black (R) will accompany President Trump on Air Force One on his flight to Nashville Monday. (USA Today)

TX GOV: Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez (D) at her campaign kickoff “on Sunday called for a ‘new Texas’ that would put residents ahead of controversial policies like the sanctuary cities law, proposed bathroom bills other issues she said are on the fringe.” (Dallas Morning News) “[S]he quickly acknowledged she will have to work to win. ‘A lot of people don’t recognize me when I’m out of uniform,’ she told a crowd of around 100 cheering supporters.” (Houston Chronicle)

“Though his father inspired his sudden move to politics,” investor Andrew White (D) said he never talked to him about running for public office. Mark White, who served as governor from 1983-87, died in August of a heart attack after a long battle with cancer. ‘I never talked to him about it,’ White said. ‘It’s one of my great regrets.’” (Dallas Morning News)

“Since taking office as governor in January 2015, [Gov. Greg] Abbott (R) has appointed 889 people to boards or elevated them to chairmanships. Two hundred fifty-nine of those picks — and their spouses in some cases — have donated roughly a combined $14.2 million to Abbott’s campaigns since June 2001. … About 29 percent of the Republican governor’s appointees are donors, with their contributions ranging from $25 to more than $1 million. Their tally is part of more than $130 million in donations from 2001 through last October.” (San Antonio Express-News)

WY GOV: Attorney Harriet Hageman (R) “confirmed this week she will make a formal announcement of her candidacy to be Wyoming’s next governor at 10 a.m. Jan. 16 at the Depot Plaza in downtown Cheyenne.” (Wyoming Tribune Eagle)

"President Trump signed a sweeping spending bill Friday afternoon, averting another partial government shutdown. The action came after Trump had declared a national emergency in a move designed to circumvent Congress and build additional barriers at the southern border, where he said the United States faces 'an invasion of our country.'"

Source:

REDIRECTS $8 BILLION

Trump Declares National Emergency

6 days ago

THE DETAILS

"President Donald Trump on Friday declared a state of emergency on the southern border and immediately direct $8 billion to construct or repair as many as 234 miles of a border barrier. The move — which is sure to invite vigorous legal challenges from activists and government officials — comes after Trump failed to get the $5.7 billion he was seeking from lawmakers. Instead, Trump agreed to sign a deal that included just $1.375 for border security."

Source:

COULD SOW DIVISION AMONG REPUBLICANS

House Will Condemn Emergency Declaration

6 days ago

THE DETAILS

"House Democrats are gearing up to pass a joint resolution disapproving of President Trump’s emergency declaration to build his U.S.-Mexico border wall, a move that will force Senate Republicans to vote on a contentious issue that divides their party. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said Thursday evening in an interview with The Washington Post that the House would take up the resolution in the coming days or weeks. The measure is expected to easily clear the Democratic-led House, and because it would be privileged, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would be forced to put the resolution to a vote that he could lose."

Source:

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DRUG FORFEITURE FUND

Where Will the Emergency Money Come From?

1 weeks ago

THE DETAILS

"ABC News has learned the president plans to announce on Friday his intention to spend about $8 billion on the border wall with a mix of spending from Congressional appropriations approved Thursday night, executive action and an emergency declaration. A senior White House official familiar with the plan told ABC News that $1.375 billion would come from the spending bill Congress passed Thursday; $600 million would come from the Treasury Department's drug forfeiture fund; $2.5 billion would come from the Pentagon's drug interdiction program; and through an emergency declaration: $3.5 billion from the Pentagon's military construction budget."

Source:

TRUMP SAYS HE WILL SIGN

House Passes Funding Deal

1 weeks ago

THE DETAILS

"The House passed a massive border and budget bill that would avert a shutdown and keep the government funded through the end of September. The Senate passed the measure earlier Thursday. The bill provides $1.375 billion for fences, far short of the $5.7 billion President Trump had demanded to fund steel walls. But the president says he will sign the legislation, and instead seek to fund his border wall by declaring a national emergency."